SEA-FISHERIES LABORATORY. 107 
by fine filaments. Yet all magnetism and electricity with 
their infinite applications hark back to this experiment by 
Thales and to Galvani’s observation of twitchings in a frog’s 
legs.” 
In the great industrial conflict which certainly hes before 
us in the years to come, this country will need all the help 
it can get from University laboratories and other investigating 
institutions. Success will depend largely upon continuous 
scientific investigation and the best industrial application 
of the results obtained. We know that our enemies are already 
making preparations for this. It will be fatal if we are less 
prepared and less fully equipped for the work. Science alone 
can prevail against science. It is reported that a whole army 
of scientific men have been set to work in Germany to make 
an exhaustive study of the industrial problems which are 
sure to arise after the war, with a view to adopting measures 
to ward off the dangers which may menace the Central Powers. 
The industrial difficulties and dangers menace us equally, 
and it would be a suicidal policy to do anything that might 
reduce our scientific efficiency in the coming period of stress. 
As Sir William Mather has recently said, “this is not the 
time to close the doors of laboratories in which provision 
is being made for the industrial conflict which must come 
after victory has been achieved. Provision for the present 
and preparation for the future can be secured only by the 
strenuous efforts of those engaged in teaching and research 
at our highest centres of learning ; and it is to their continuous 
work that we must look both to replace the wastage of promising 
investigators caused by the war and to train original workers 
upon whom we must rely for further advance. Any step 
which would tend to diminish the efficiency, or increase the 
financial difficulties of our University institutions would 
seriously, if not irreparably, jeopardise the future welfare 
of this country.” 
